Publication Date
2026
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
College of Music & Performing Arts
Department
Theatre and Dance, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Dr. James Al-Shamma
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
You Can't Kill the Beat: Cult Musicals
This paper examines how certain musicals achieve lasting popularity despite initial failure, in the eyes of critics, by developing cult followings. Drawing on theories of camp aesthetics and fandom, this paper explores how exaggerated, unconventional, and "campy" elements, often rejected by critics, become the qualities that attract niche audiences. Using examples of certain musicals, such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Ride the Cyclone, Heathers, and Carrie, I argue that cult musicals survive and thrive because audiences actively participate in sustaining them. The revival of shows through social media illustrates how digital fandoms can resurrect works that were once deemed failures. Ultimately, I suggest that critical reception and financial success are not the only measures of theatrical value.
Recommended Citation
Kinsey, Alexis T., "You Can't Kill the Beat: Cult Musicals" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 708.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/708
